Costa Rica
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Country Information
- AFS Country Code: CRC
- See http://www.usa.afs.org/usa_en/view/7968 for more information on Costa Rica.
Placement
- Age requirement: 15.0-17.11 years for school. Because school placements are with classmates between 15 and 17 years old, younger participants have an easier time adapting to school environment.
- Language requirement: Basic to intermediate Spanish level preferred.
- Health restrictions: Costa Rica is humid, dusty and hot. Also families usually have pets inside/outside the house. AFS can not guarantee special placements for allergic people and they should bring medication for their condition. Most families have pets (inside or outside the house). Students who dislike animals or have allergies are difficult to place.
- Graduates: Yes. Graduated students must be very motivated academically and must accept that they may be placed with classmates of 16-17 years old.
- Smoking: To buy cigarettes in CRC is illegal for people under 18 years old. Therefore, it is very difficult to place students who smoke. Any student under 18 should abstain. If the student is smoker and turn 18 during the program, he/she must sign a document that states they are willing to abstain during their exchange experience or at least guarantee they are not going to smoke in the host family's home.
- Drinking: Any student on the school programs of AFS CRC must not drink alcoholic beverages. Drinking for people under 18 years old is illegal in Costa Rica and AFS CRC has a strong position against alcohol drinking by students on the school program (even if they turn 18 during the program). Repeated alcohol consumption or excessive drinking (even if only occasional) can be reason for immediate dismissal from the program and return to the home country.
- Dietary Restrictions: It is very difficult to place vegetarian participants in Costa Rica. Any case of vegetarian participant would be considered on individual basis. The basic diet of most Costa Rican families includes rice, beans, corn, fruit, and vegetables. Costa Rican families consider meat consumption not only healthy and a basic part of their diet, but in many cases something they are grateful to be able to afford. It is expected from any participant on this program to adapt to that reality.
- Location: 20% urban, 20% suburban, 60% rural.Students could be placed in any part of the country. That includes regions with different cultural backgrounds such as indigenous heritage or Afro-Caribbean descendants.
- Dress: Students should also bring aprox US $120 for school uniforms.
- Other: Seeking adaptability, responsibility and self-motivating students towards school work.
Travel Information
- Visa: All participants enter Costa Rica as tourists. Most current sending partners do not need a special Visa for this first entry. Those who need one should obtain it before entering the country, at a Costa Rican Counselate. Once in the country all participants must complete the process to obtain the student visa.
- Departure Preparation:
- Arrival & Orientation:
- Departure:
Host Families
- Transportation:
- Extracurricular: Extra activities are usually organized by volunteer local chapters. Some of these activities are only for students hosted in the specific chapter and other activities can include a limited number of students from other chapters (by invitation). Each student is responsible for the cost of these elective activities. In the past some chapters have organized: trips to eco-adventure parks, trips to national parks (beach, mountain or forest), trips to the neighbor countries (Panamá and Nicaragua), etc. Usually local chapter also participate in cultural or festive community based fairs and activities, but that depends on each volunteer chapter.
- Other: Host families have very traditional attitudes. Costa Rica is a traditional conservative country, especially in the country side. Participant must be aware of this fact and willing to adapt to significant restrictions on their independence (necessary to adjust to Costa Rican family life. Most placements on the school programs are in small/rural communities outside of the capital city. Therefore, students should expect limited access to shopping centers or diverse forms of entertainment, such as clubs, cinemas and others.
Support Information
Information needed.
Academics
- Transcript/Diploma: Participants will not be “regular” high school students-in a different educational category—all rights, but can’t get transcript or diploma.In order to get recognition of classes to take to home school, participants should ask CRC school to issue letter of certification with courses/grades. Won’t be granted if participants don’t work at school. Diploma of attendance can be obtained. AFS Costa Rica is not responsible for obtaining/requesting transcripts of grades for any student after the end of the program.
- It is necessary to bring grades certificated with stamp/seal from natural country, otherwise will be impossible to enroll a student in school. Principals are very strict with all paper work.
- School: Placements throughout high school, but placements usually in 10th grade in public high schools
- Paperwork is cumbersome and problematic. Although the academically brilliant and motivated could do senior year and take exams
- Program Management/blue “Surviving in CRC”: pg. 13-described in detail which documents students need to bring to best plan academic courses
- No real difference in social adjustment between SH and NH cycles, despite their school year starting on SH cycle.
- Lunch: They can lunch at or near the school or at home if nearby.
- Language: Pre-arrival on-line Basic Spanish language course at www.afs.co.cr (password required).
- Transportation: Usually students travel by bus (public). In some cases the host parents take them to school (by car) and in some small communities students walk to school (short distances).
Scholarships & Sponsored Programs
See Scholarships or Sponsored Programs for Sending for more information.
General Country Information
- Description:
- Religion: Costa Rica is a country with approximately 95% Christian population (mostly Catholics). However, freedom of religion is guaranteed.
- Climate: Costa Rica has two seasons: rainy (May-Nov) and dry (Dec-Apr). Students should be aware that they probably will need clothes for both weathers. The country is very hot, humid and dusty: participants must be prepared for this environment.
- Politics:
- Language: Spanish
Program Information
- High School Program: The AFS CRC School Year Program is designed to provide students with an opportunity to live with a Costa Rican host family, be part of a community and attend classes at a local high school. Each student will be placed with a volunteer (non-paid) host family and usually in a public high school. All AFS students are expected to attend school according to their full schedule, to complete all work assigned both in class and outside of class and show continuous effort throughout the year to work to their fullest potential. Families and schools expect that the student they agree to host is coming on this program to study and to become a full member of their family and their community. In addition, each student will be assigned to a local volunteer chapter that will give him/her support throughout the entire exchange program. Even when Costa Rica is a world renowned tourist destination, please be absolutely clear with your sending participants about the fact that this program is based on school and family life and that tourist travel can not be a priority. National activities offered to the participants throughout the year: Arrival orientation, Second part of arrival orientation (8 to 10 weeks after arrival), Mid-stay orientation and End of Stay evaluation and trip
- Language Study Program:
- Itinerary: A specific itinerary will be provided to students once they arrive to their host community. Each group has a slightly different itinerary and class schedule. For example, the groups in Liberia and Cartago are going to receive classes during the mornings, while the group in Turrialba is going to receive classes mostly in the afternoons. Two of the groups are going to receive classes five days a weeks; one of them will have classes three hours per day while the other is going to have four hours per day. The other group is going to receive classes four days a week. There is also a program of field activities for each chapter. The Chapters do this to accommodate to the schedule of the schools and the host families.
- Transportation: They will mostly walk or use public transportation. It's the same thing as for the school program.
- Lunches: It's the same that with the school program. If they live close enough to go to the host family, they can go there. If not, they could bring their lunch from home (or have it in the school cafeteria – AFS CRC has a reimbursement procedure when a student definitively needs to buy the lunch).
Return to the Country Information page.
For information, questions or concerns, contact the Program Information Specialist or countryinfo@afs.org.
